Archive for the 'Church' Category

What’s Your Approach to the Lord’s Day?

Published
by
Chris
on November 18, 2008
in Chris Brauns Radio Spots and Church
. 1 Comment

My mom has this story about hiding from her parents while she read a book on Sunday afternoon. She read secretly because she grew up in a church tradition that was militant about how you spent Sunday. Sunday was reserved for church and sleeping and little else. They were not allowed to watch television or read pleasure books. They could only read their Sunday School papers and the Bible. Laughter was discouraged.

My mom grew up with an unfortunate extreme.

But, I doubt that many people listening today are too rigid with the Lord’s Day.

As a matter of fact, we have gone into the opposite ditch. For many, church attendance has become an elective behavior that we do if our health is perfect and it happens to fit into our recreational schedules.

My friends, we are treating church attendance on the Lord’s Day far too casually. True: attending church does not merit or earn us salvation. We are saved only on the basis of grace. And, there are legitimate reasons for missing church services.

But, God never intended that His people would sporadically attend church when it fit into their schedule. The Bible specifically commands us to not forsake being together with His people.

You do not want to miss the incredible blessings of being consistently with God’s people. It is not worth it. If you are not consistently attending church, you are giving up way too much.

The Business of the Church is Not The Business of the Church

Published
by
Chris
on October 23, 2008
in Church and Uncategorized
. 2 Comments

“The business of the church is not the business of the church.”

First, the quote is not original to me, and I’m not sure who wants or deserves credit, so I won’t give it.

I think a double meaning is intended:

  1. The purpose of the church is not a business purpose: “the mission of the church is not to be a business.”
  2. The entire congregation does not need to know all the inner workings of the church.

Ever go through a bad congregational business meeting?

Thoughts?

A Local Church is Not a Local Church

Published
by
Chris
on October 21, 2008
in Church
. 8 Comments

A “local church” that is “local,” is not a local church.  Our Lord mandated, “Go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).

———-

UPDATE per the comment of OSU fan Brian McLaughlin:

Better said, a local church that is exclusively local is not a local church.  Certainly, local churches should first be local - - but, it cannot end there.

No Pious Particles: Christians Need One Another

Published
by
Chris
on October 9, 2008
in Church and Quotes
. 0 Comments

Haddon Robinson writes:

. . . Let’s not kid ourselves.  We can’t be what Moffat called “a pious particle,” a Christian in isolation.  We need the church for our own grip on faith.  We may approach the Throne as individuals, of course, but common prayers, common praise, common fellowship are also a part of Christian experience.

Actually, attending church is a life and death matter!  Tired congregations snoozing in their padded pews do not reflect the tension of the “day approaching.”  Yet that day is closer than we realize.

Why People Left Their Church

Published
by
Chris
on October 1, 2008
in Church
. 0 Comments

One of my heart felt prayers for Unpacking Forgiveness is that God will use it to help people in a local church resolve a conflict and persevere together.  Satan is on the prowl and, perhaps, his favorite way to gain a foothold is through trouble in relationships (see Ephesians 4:26-27).

26 “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Today Abraham Piper asked his readers to share why they left their churches.  You can read their answers here.

Never Another Chance Quite Like This for the Bricks

Published
by
Chris
on September 26, 2008
in Church
. 1 Comment

First, can you tell which one is not real? Who do you think is the best looking?

I don’t share this picture only to be cute. Prayerfully walking around our church this morning, seeing how hard our church family has worked to prepare for this weekend–

On decorating

On having church programs available

On remodeling

On serving in ministries

It struck me that we will never again have an opportunity quite like this one in our community.

Consider:

  • We will never be 150 years old again.
  • We’ve recently completed the biggest construction project in the last 50 years.
  • Our church is Grand Marshalls in the parade. We have not one, but two floats. We’re practically a parade unto ourselves. And, perhaps most important, we are not behind the horses.
  • Our guy, Bob Hoernecke, is the citizen of the year.
  • Our Fall programming is off to an especially strong start. AWANA, Sunday School, Bible Studies . . .
  • We are enjoying the increased space from expanding into the parsonage. Last year we were still working to get situated.
  • Only one service at 9:00.  We’ll be packed in like ecclesiastical sardines. 

I am preaching on Psalm 20. I don’t ever remember preaching on it before. And, it is a really cool, warm, and positive Psalm: another chance to proclaim the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is so much to this Psalm.

The book we wrote - - Unpacking Forgiveness (See http://www.chrisbrauns.com/unpackingforgiveness/ ) is now available for $12. At least read the acknowledgements (you don’t have to buy it to do that) and see how I mentioned Stillman Valley!

Remember, Jamie and I are donating the books to the church. If you buy one, you can view it as giving $12 to the church.

All of which is to say that we will never have another chance quite like this weekend again. Of course, there will be new opportunities. But, this is a special chance and we need to seize the day.

I wonder if you would do at least one of the following (and let me know if you would, that you did it):

  • Call three people and remind them that this is a new Sunday. They don’t have to be new people. Just spread the excitement.
  • At a football game, talk to someone about church. Maybe even take a sermon series flier with you?
  • Pray on your knees for at least 5 minutes for our church and our ministry in the community.
  • Be at the church Sunday afternoon and tell someone what you like the best about the remodeling project.
  • Be at the church Sunday and show them what we have coming up in programs.
  • Invite 3 people into the church for cake, water, and balloons.
  • Get to church earlier than normal on Sunday so you can soak in the excitement. Then go up and down each aisle saying, “Hi,” to people.
  • Pass out 3 sermon fliers at the parade and say, “This is a sermon series you don’t want to miss.”
  • Forward the link to the new sermon series flier to 20 people and write a personal invitation. You can see the link here:

http://www.theredbrickchurch.org/email/sailboat.html

I am so excited for the weekend. Let’s have fun and share the excitement with as many as possible.

Chris.

Pray, pray, pray.

Writing from the Land of Lincoln

Published
by
Chris
on September 23, 2008
in Chris Brauns Radio Spots and Church
. 1 Comment

In 1832, if you had asked a 23 year old Abraham Lincoln what he thought of the area that is now Stillman Valley, Lincoln probably wouldn’t have wanted to talk about it.  Here on the ground that is now Stillman Valley, a young Lincoln helped bury soldiers who had been killed in a disastrous skirmish with Blackhawk’s warriors.  Many of the dead were scalped or decapitated.  It was a gruesome scene of senseless death and barbaric acts.

Having witnessed such horror in this part of Ogle county, Lincoln might have suggested that a town be built somewhere else.

But, it wasn’t the end for this blood soaked ground.  God is a God of redemption.  Twenty six years after the battle of Stillman’s Run, our church, the Congregational Christian Church of Stillman Valley , “the Red Brick Church’ was formed.  By God’s grace, for 150 years we have worshipped a short walk from where Lincoln helped buried mutilated soldiers.

This coming weekend, September 27-28 is Fall Festival in Stillman Valley.  My children will scramble for candy on the same ground where soldiers died in the Blackhawk war.  And, our church will continue our 150 year celebration with a goal of being a Christ-centered, evangelical church.  We’re having an open house so people can see our new remodeling project and we’ll be giving out bottled water, balloons, and birthday cake.

Facts About How “American Christians” Give

Published
by
Chris
on September 21, 2008
in Church, Quotes and Recommended Reading
. 1 Comment

If you have not read:

Smith, Christian, and Michael O. Emerson. Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money. New York: Oxford Univeristy Press, 2008.

At least read this alarming summary. . .Here are 6 facts about American giving (based on their thorough research):

Fact #1: At least one out of five American Christians - 20 percent of all U.S. Christians -give literally nothing to church, para-church, or nonreligious charities.

Fact #2: The vast majority of American Christians give very little to church, para-church, or nonreligious charities.

Fact #3: American Christians do not give their dollars evenly among themselves, but, rather a small minority of generous givers among them contributes most of the total Christian dollars given.

Fact #4: Higher income earning Christians-like Americans generally -give little to no more money as a percentage of household income than lower income earning Christians.

Fact #5: Despite a massive growth of real per capita income over the twentieth century, the average percentage share of income given by American Christians not only did not grow in proportion but actually declined slightly during this time period.

Fact #6: The vast majority of the money that American Christians do give to religion is spent in and for their own local communities of faith - - little is spent on missions, development, and poverty relief outside of local congregations, particularly outside the United States, in ways that benefit people other than the givers themselves.

Think Twice Before Wearing Out Your Pastor

Published
by
Chris
on September 8, 2008
in Church
. 1 Comment

In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Paul issued a grim warning for people who damage local churches.

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV)

As William Mounce points out, “You” in this passage is plural.  Hence, Paul is referring here to God’s people.  Paul’s point is that God will deal ever so severely with those who destroy local churches.

Perhaps I am biased given that I am a pastor, but I agree with Mounce (who is not a pastor) who says that the most common way local churches are damaged is through attacks on pastors. 

While there is plenty of blame to go around, I am shocked to be finding hundreds of what I call “Pastor Abuse Retreat Centers,” camps and cabins set aside for the healing of battle weary pastors. I’m still waiting to find a retreat for abused elders — not to say this doesn’t happen, but I think the absence of such is telling.

When shepherds of God’s flock fail to do their job, when they allow evil men into positions of power because they are rich or willing to work, when people lusting for power and control destroy a pastor’s ministry, family, and dreams, then the perfect and patient vengeance of God is promised to deliver the crushing blow. Perhaps the movement in America from “Church” to “Religious Mall” is the first stage of that punishment.

But the thing about God’s patience is that it is meant to lead us to repentance. But in always the right time, in always the right way, God will keep his promise and will destroy those who persist in destroying his holy temple—the true followers of Christ.

Having been in the pastorate now a number of years, it amazes me to hear and experience the flippancy with which shepherds are often treated.  While pastors are flawed, remember, they are called by God.  It is a fearful thing to presume to undermine a pastor.

Having said that, it is still more fearful for pastors who abuse their position (Hebrews 13:17).  A point that should cause me and other pastors to tremble.

Read Mounce’s post here.

On the Centrality of Baptism

Published
by
Chris
on August 31, 2008
in Chris Brauns Radio Spots and Church
. 1 Comment

What would you say if you were a pastor, officiating at a wedding ceremony and the bride decided that she was going to decline accepting the wedding ring? Can you picture that?

A wedding is the establishment of a sacred covenant. The wedding ring is the symbol of the establishment of that covenant. If I was officiating at a wedding where the bride refused to accept the ring, I assure you that there would be no signing of the wedding license after the ceremony.

What would you say if you were a pastor and the bride refused the ring?

Or, let me ask it to you this way. What would you say, if you were the pastor and someone in your church said they have professed faith in Christ, yet they prefer not to identify with Jesus in baptism? Scripture said that Jesus established a New Covenant with his people by the breaking of his body and the shedding of his blood. We participate in this covenant by professing true faith in him. We publicly identify with his death burial and resurrection by being obedient in baptism.

The idea of someone saying that they are a follower of Christ, but refusing to identify with him in baptism, is as troubling as a bride who takes a pass on the ring ceremony at her wedding.

I am Pastor Chris Brauns at the Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley. If you have professed faith in Christ, and yet have not yet been baptized, I encourage you to call your pastor today and commit to baptism.